Basic Fountain Pen Guide
Fountain Pen Care and Maintenance
General Care
Your pen is a unique, hand-crafted work of functional art designed to last you a lifetime if you take proper care.
Please take care to not drop your pen on a hard surface. Your pen’s finish or hardware can be blemished or damaged from a drop.
Please take care to not expose your pen to excessive moisture. Never submerge your pen in water.
Your pen can be damaged with exposure to extreme heat or cold. Never leave your pen inside an unattended vehicle or outside in the weather. Don’t leave your pen anywhere you wouldn’t be comfortable overnight.
Take care not to expose your pen to harsh chemicals or solvents.
Guidance on Ink Selection
Ink cartridges are fine, but a converter pump with bottled ink may have fewer issues. Be sure to get the correct ink cartridge or converter style for your pen. Most fountain pens accept an International Size cartridge or converter pump. For more information on using a converter pump, see this article from Jet Pens.
If you use bottle ink, ONLY use ink designed for fountain pens. Do NOT use calligraphy inks (designed for dip pens) or India ink.
Here are a few trusted sources of bottle inks and fountain pen supplies:
General Cleaning / Flushing
Never clean / flush a pen in hot water or with chemicals!
Flush the nib in cold running water until it runs clear and dry with a soft cloth. Take care not to bend the tines or tips of the nib when wiping. If the pen is really dirty, use a fountain pen cleaning solution. You can use an aspiration bulb to assist with flushing.
You can also add a couple small drops of Dawn dishwashing detergent to the cold water. Be sure to rinse all the soapy water from your nib and thoroughly rinse with clean water when done.
If you don’t plan on using your fountain pen for several weeks, flush it with cold water before storage. Allow your nib to air dry completely before reassembly.
General Care
Cap your pen properly. Hold the pen with the nib upright and screw the cap on top of it. Take care not to drop your pen, or you may end up with excess ink inside the cap. Extreme changes in environment or harsh impacts can blemish your pen’s finish or damage the hardware.
Do NOT leave your pen unattended in a vehicle during extreme heat or cold. As a general rule of thumb, don’t leave your fountain pen somewhere you would not be comfortable overnight.
Keep Your Pen Close
If you value your fountain pen, do NOT let others use it.
Many people may try to remove the cap by pulling, which may damage the screw threads of your pen and its cap.
Those unfamiliar with fountain pens may shake the pen and cause the ink to splatter.
Others may use too much pressure when writing and cause damage to the fine metal pen nib.
Advice for Airline Flights
Before flying on a plane, either fill your pen all the way or leave it empty. A sudden change in cabin pressure may cause the pen to leak if you don’t follow this rule. It’s also advised to keep your fountain pens in the main cabin, and not in your checked baggage. (During your flight, you may want to store your fountain pen in a ziplock bag for added protection.)
Note: The above guidelines should not be considered all-inclusive. Common sense will go a long way in the care of your fine writing instrument.